Tool and method for tightening dreadlocks

ABSTRACT

A loc grooming tool comprising a loop section with ends attached to a handle section. The handle is adapted to be held between the thumb and index finger of a user.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to hair grooming. More specifically, the present invention relates to a tool and method for tightening dreadlocks also referred to as “locs” or “locks” (herein after “locs”).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A hair style wherein long hairs form into matted twisted coils or rope of hair is generally referred to as dreadlocks. Other similar hair styles and variations thereof are referred to generally as tresses or braids. After a period of time, as hair grows, the loc becomes loose at the scalp and the appearance of the person wearing the locs is perceived as unkempt.

Keeping locs maintained neatly can be time consuming, frustrating and physically strenuous. There is a need for tools or devices and methods for grooming and maintaining locs. Such devices are known in the art; see for example U.S. Pat. No. 6,708,699, U.S. Pat. No. 9,198,493, U.S. 2002-0189629, U.S. 2004-0134509. Those devices include rug latch hook and crochet. However, the use of these devices sometimes leads to hair breakage, damaged loc ends and hair being painfully pulled from the scalp.

There remains a need for tools or devices and methods for locs grooming.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The inventor has designed and constructed a tool and method that allows for the tightening of locs with a minimal amount of time and effort. The locs are thereby kept looking neat, polished and groomed. The tool and method of the invention is efficient and can be used relatively easily.

More specifically, the present invention provides the following in accordance with aspects thereof:

-   -   (1) A loc grooming tool comprising a loop section having ends         and a handle section, wherein the ends of the loop section are         attached to the handle section.     -   (2) A loc grooming tool according to (1), wherein the loop         section is made of metal wire.     -   (3) A loc grooming tool according to (1), wherein the loop         section is made of aluminum wire.     -   (4) A loc grooming tool according to (1), wherein the loop         section is made of polymer material or Apoxie™ material.     -   (5) A loc grooming tool according to (1), wherein the loop         section is made of Apoxie™ sculpting clay.     -   (6) A loc grooming tool according to (1), wherein the handle         section is made of polymer material or Apoxie™ material.     -   (7) A loc grooming tool according to (1), wherein the handle         section is made of Apoxie™ sculpting clay.     -   (8) A loc grooming tool according to (1) having a length of         about 2.5 inches.     -   (9) A method of grooming locs, comprising using the tool as         defined in (1).     -   (10) A method of grooming a loc, comprising the steps of:         -   (a) providing a tool comprising a loop section having ends             and a handle section, wherein the ends of the loop section             are attached to the handle section;         -   (b) pulling the loc up, at an angle of about 90° relative to             the scalp;         -   (c) inserting the loop section within hair growth;         -   (d) inserting the tip of the loc into the loop;         -   (e) pulling the tool in a direction opposite the insertion             direction, whereby the loc is tightened;     -   optionally repeating steps (a)-(e).     -   (11) A method of (10), wherein step (e) comprises removing the         tool.     -   (12) A method of (10), wherein step (e) comprises removing the         tool and continuing pulling manually with a user's fingers.

Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of specific embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the appended drawings:

FIG. 1: Head of a person wearing locs and showing hair growth (person in need of hair grooming).

FIG. 2: A perspective view of the tool according to the invention.

FIG. 3: Head of a person in need of grooming and showing hair growth.

FIG. 4: Use of the tool according to the invention; the loop portion of the tool is slid within the hair growth.

FIG. 5: Use of the tool according to the invention; the tip of the dreadlock is inserted into the loop section of the tool.

FIG. 6: Use of the tool according to the invention; the tool is pulled away in a direction opposite the insertion direction thereby pulling the dreadlock/braid.

FIG. 7: Use of the tool according to the invention; the tool is pulled away in a direction opposite the insertion direction thereby pulling the dreadlock.

FIG. 8: Use of the tool according to the invention; the tool is removed and the tip of the dreadlock is pulled manually by a user.

FIG. 9: Head of a person with dreadlocks/braids/tresses tightened using the tool according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Before the present invention is further described, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described below, as variations of these embodiments may be made and still fall within the scope of the appended claims. It is also to be understood that the terminology employed is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments, and is not intended to be limiting. Instead, the scope of the present invention will be established by the appended claims.

In order to provide a clear and consistent understanding of the terms used in the present specification, a number of definitions are provided below. Moreover, unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms as used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains.

The use of the word “a” or “an” when used in conjunction with the term “comprising” in the claims and/or the specification may mean “one”, but it is also consistent with the meaning of “one or more”, “at least one”, and “one or more than one”. Similarly, the word “another” may mean at least a second or more.

As used in this specification and claim(s), the words “comprising” (and any form of comprising, such as “comprise” and “comprises”), “having” (and any form of having, such as “have” and “has”), “including” (and any form of including, such as “include” and “includes”) or “containing” (and any form of containing, such as “contain” and “contains”), are inclusive or open-ended and do not exclude additional, unrecited elements or process steps.

The inventor has designed and constructed a tool and method that allows for the tightening of locs with a minimal amount of time and effort. The locs are thereby kept looking neat, polished and groomed. The tool and method of the invention is efficient and can be used relatively easily.

The present invention is illustrated in further details by the following non-limiting examples.

Referring to the figures, the tool according to the invention 10 is presented in FIG. 2. The tool 10 comprises a loop section 12 and a handle section 14. The tool 10 is easily carried in the hand of a user. The overall length of the tool 10 is about 2.5 inches. The length of the loop section 12 is about 1 inch, and the length of the handle section 14 is about 1.5 inches. As will be understood by a skilled person, the size of the tool 10 and/or its loop 12 and handle 14 sections may vary to accommodate the size of the locs or other needs.

The loop section 12 of the tool according to the invention is made of aluminum wire. As will be understood by a skilled person, other suitable metals or polymer materials may be used. Also, the loop 12 may have any suitable shape. The ends of the loop 16 a,16 b are attached to the handle section 14. Alternatively, the ends of the loop 16 a, 16 b may be attached together and to the handle section 14.

The handle section 14 of the tool according to the invention is made of suitable polymer material. Also, the handle 14 is adapted to be held between the thumb and index finger of the user (FIG. 2).

As will be understood by a skilled person, the tool according to the invention 10 may be made in one piece.

FIG. 1 and FIGS. 3-8 show the head of a person wearing locs and in need of grooming 20. The hair growth 22 under the loc 24 is presented (FIG. 3).

Referring to FIGS. 4-8, the user pulls up the loc 24, at an angle of about 90° relative to the scalp. The loop section 12 of the tool is inserted within the hair growth 22 as illustrated in FIG. 4. The tip 26 of the loc is inserted into the loop 12 of the tool as illustrated in FIG. 5. The user pulls the tool 10 in a direction opposite the insertion direction; thereby pulling the loc 24 through the loop 12 (FIGS. 6-8). The whole length of the loc 24 is slid through the loop 12. The movement may be made entirely by pulling the tool 10. Alternatively, the tool 10 may be released at one point during the process and the pulling movement is continued manually with the user using her/his fingers to pull the loc 24 (FIG. 8). Movement of the loc 24 in its entire length results in the loc 24 being tightened at the scalp level. The process may be repeated a number of time until the desired tightness is reached. FIG. 9 illustrates the head of a person with locs tightened 30.

The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth above and in the figures, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.

The present description refers to a number of documents, the content of which is herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. 

1. A loc grooming tool comprising a loop section having ends and a handle section, wherein the ends of the loop section are attached to the handle section.
 2. A loc grooming tool according to claim 1, wherein the loop section is made of metal wire.
 3. A loc grooming tool according to claim 1, wherein the loop section is made of aluminum wire.
 4. A loc grooming tool according to claim 1, wherein the loop section is made of polymer material or Apoxie™ material.
 5. A loc grooming tool according to claim 1, wherein the loop section is made of Apoxie™ sculpting clay.
 6. A loc grooming tool according to claim 1, wherein the handle section is made of polymer material or Apoxie™ material.
 7. A loc grooming tool according to claim 1, wherein the handle section is made of Apoxie™ sculpting clay.
 8. A loc grooming tool according to claim 1 having a length of about 2.5 inches.
 9. A method of grooming locs, comprising using the tool as defined in claim
 1. 10. A method of grooming a loc, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a tool comprising a loop section having ends and a handle section, wherein the ends of the loop section are attached to the handle section; (b) pulling the loc up, at an angle of about 90° relative to the scalp; (c) inserting the loop section within hair growth; (d) inserting the tip of the loc into the loop; (e) pulling the tool in a direction opposite the insertion direction, whereby the loc is tightened; optionally repeating steps (a)-(e).
 11. A method of claim 10, wherein step (e) comprises removing the tool.
 12. A method of claim 10, wherein step (e) comprises removing the tool and continuing pulling manually with a user's fingers. 